What would have been a sharp reply to this?

[2cubesoficeandasliceoflime]

I've lived all over the UK and have a fairly neutral accent which some people interpret as posh (it isn't) but sometimes I use colloquialisms that people dont expect because of it.

I was organising some food. I had referred to it as the "evening meal" just because that was what the menu said. I was speaking to one of the delegates that I dont know and said about having "tea". He looked down his nose at me and said "do you mean dinner? Tea is something you drink". This was in front of quite a lot of people and some sniggered. I just muttered something about the evening meal.

Ive a feeling this wont be the only time Ill experience this about how I talk so what would have have been a sharp but professional reply? Im not the quickest at retorts and when Im put on the spot like that I stumble over my words.

A tinkly laugh/did you mean to be so rude etc aren't particularly sharp.

Im not going to change how I talk. I shouldnt have to. He knew exactly what I was talking about and was just trying (and succeeding) in embarassing me. I can see that certain words/phrases might need to be explained.

This isnt meant to be a discussion about why "dinner" is correct.

(BTW I also use toilet and HATE loo and will never use it).

The delegate has no manners, he tried to make you feel uncomfortable. Even if others sniggered out of nervousness, they despise what he did.

Best thing to say would be no, I mean tea. It's called that in many parts of the UK.

you could add Have you not travelled much? If you want to meet twat with twat. 😁

I grew up calling it tea then moved down south, had my children there then years later moved back up north. I call it dinner and have never made the switch back.

Funnily enough my eldest says tea and my youngest says dinner even though they were born down south and we were there for several years. I dont know why. I guess they just picked it up differently.

There's never any need to be a twat because someone uses a different word for something. Its very very bad manners.

As I said in my post the venue called it the "evening meal" (presumably to avoid the whole lunch/dinner/tea debate) and up to that point that is what I had been calling it too. I just forgot and called it what I normally call it.

< Big grin> Mate I’m from the north - we call it tea. If you’re not familiar with regional differences wait till you hear what we put on our chips - it’ll blow your mind!

Is this not an unwanted attempt at harmless ribbing? Probably best not overthink it.

I'm slightly baffled by the northern working class comments. We're northern and working class and we say dinner.

He shouldn't have corrected you, that's rude, but I'd have just shrugged and said "okay" or "whatever" and let it go. It was him that looked like a fool, not you, so don't stoop to his level.

Around 6 or 7 it's tea. Any little bits later on is supper. ' We eat our dinner in the middle of the day ' is a well known saying here. It's how we distinguish ourselves from Muppets who have 'notions'. Or it can be a bit of reverse snobbery. Anyway he sounds like a right Muppet. ☘️

"It's also a clearing on a golf course!" Then laugh

Just ignore. He wants to get a rise out of you.

I bet you mean American Chip Spice? 🤣🤣🤣
Lived in a little town beginning with B that probably had lots of people whose evening meal (with or without chip spice) would have dinner. A cow licked me when I wasnt paying attention!

Tea and supper are words I wouldn’t personally use (probably because I’m from London). Tea makes me think of a jam sandwich and crisps at 4pm after school and supper makes me think of a bowl of soup and crusty bread at about 8pm.

I wouldn’t have said anything to you as it’s just rude and snippy.

Nice. Or a simple ‘That’s a very rude comment and completely unnecessary’ is very ‘Mic drop’ and walk away.

The evening meal, Geoffrey, you know, the third one of the day? The one you eat before bedtime? In the nursery, with nanny?

Then chuckle and walk away

Make him look like an imbecile

I wouldn't personally mention the 'putting me down' comment, because that shows that he has done exactly that

Yeah don’t be embarrassed, ridiculous man. Death stare works and own it.

I wouldn’t go with any of the comments pointing out that he was rude, putting you down etc because that just makes you look defensive and argumentative. The best response is to gently laugh back at him, making him appear slightly ridiculous for mentioning it. So the “are you not familiar with regional variations?” Said with a smile, type reply would probably have been much more effective.

Oh Dave, you are a marvel. Thank you SO much.